Hold-down device for vehicles



W. W. BLAKELY HOLD-DOWN DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 27. 1924 2 Sheets-Shut 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY5 Oct. 26 1926. 1,604.215

. w. w. BLAKE LY I HOLD-DOWN DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 27, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. .Z zZZza/rr F 3212;;

am/1m A TTORNEY5 Patented Qct. 26, 1926.

users STATES WILLIAM W. BLAKELY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HOLD-DOlVN DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed October 27, 1924. Serial N0. 746,088.

This invention relates generally to anchorage devices for holding vehicles properly positionedwithin freight cars and the like.

One oi. the essential objects of the inven- 5 tion is to provide a simple and reliable an chorage device of this type that is adapted to yield slightly to permit the vehicle to move a limited distance responsive to shocks and jars encountered intransit. Another object is to provide a strong and durable construction that can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel fea tures of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

0 Figure 1 is a view mainly in side elevation of a vehicle arranged for shipment within a freight car or the like, and held in place by a plurality of the improved anchorage devices, the axles being in section.

5 Figure 2 isa view to an enlarged scale sectionally showing an axle engaged by one of said devices. I

lfiigure .3 is a side view of the same;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 39 but disclosing an alternative construction;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 4 but showing a still further modification.

Figure (l is a view similar to FigureQ but showing a slightly modified form of construction. j r i i It is usual to provide suitable blocks to engage the wheels of vehicles for holding the latter during shipment within freight cars and the like. However, when such blocks are used against pneumatic tires of motor vehicles, the tires being yieldable per mit the motor vehicle to move a limited amount in opposite directions responsive to shocks and jars encountered in transit so that great care is required in positioning the wheel blocks upon the floor of the freight car to prevent adjacent vehicles from bumping together and to prevent the vehicles from bumping into the walls of the freight car and thus causing damage. Since motor vehicles have been equipped With the socalled balloon. tires greater care than ever is required in the positioning of the blocks for the reason that this type of tire yields a great deal more than the standard pneu matic tire. As a result motor vehicles equipped with such tires have to be spacer further apart in the freight car and in view of this increased clearance tower motor ve hicles can be shipped in one freight car. With the present invention the objection able features just referred to are overcome and I preferably provide suitable means which is adapted to yield slightly to permit the vehicle to move a limited amount responsive to shocks and jars encountered in transit.

Referring first to the construction de scribed in views 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 1 designates a vehicle body having the front and rear axles 2 and 3 respectively. Upon each of these axles thereis clamped one or more resiliently expansible two-part rings 4. serving as an attachment means for tie members 6. Each ring 4 comprises a pair of complementary parts, formed preterably of bar metal, their central portions having a semi-circular curvature adapting themto'embrace the axle. The end portions of said parts project i'ipwardly and clownwardly as indicated at 4, and are rigidly connected, adjacent their extremities, by bolts or. the like 5. At the front and back of the ring 4, arched lugs l" arestruck out i and theupper ends or a pair of tie members 6 are secured to said lugs. Said tic membersextend to the floor 7 of the freight car or the like, wherein the vehicle 1 is being shipped. front and back of the vehicle as they extend downwardly, and their lower ends are rigidly attached to said floor by suitable fastening plates 8.

In the use of the described invention, when the vehicle 1 receives a. heavy shock acting forwardly or rearwardly, the described anchorage means permits it to respond to a limited extent to such a shock. Thus, Figure 2 indicates in dash lines a shifted position which the axle 3 may tem porarily assume. This shitting is permitted by a slight rocking movement of the ring 4 accompanied by an expansion thereof. The expansion is provided for by the location of the fastenings 5 adjacent the free ends of the parts 4. When the anchored vehicle is relieved of the temporary stress, the parts 4: will spring back to their normal shape, and the vehicle will be returned to its normal position by said parts.

In the alternative structure shown in Fig The tie members 6 diverge toward ure 4 the axle 9 is engaged by a clamping ring 10 comprising a pair of complementary sen'ii-circular parts having short ends 11 projecting above the axle and long end portions 12 projecting downwardly. The end portions 11 are bolted together as indicated at 13, and another bolt 14; connects the end portions 12 adjacent the axle. Below the bolt 1i said end portions diverge toward front and back of the vehicle as indicated at 12, and are engaged by a pair of tie memhere 15 extending to the floor 16 of the vehicle diverging toward front and rear as they extend downwardly.

In this construction a shock acting forwardly or rearwardly upon the anchored vehicle causes the axle to shift as shown in dash lines, the anchorage members assuming the positions also indicated in dash lines. It will be noted that in this construction the ring 10 does not rock upon the axle 9, the resiliency of the end portions l2 permit-- ting response of the vehicle to shocks.

In the furthermodification shown in Figure 5 an axle 17 is rotatively engaged by a two-part ring 18 having lugs 19 at the front and back thereof to which are pivotally secured housingmembers 20 for coil springs 21. Said springs are mounted upon tie rods 22, the upper ends of which are headed, as indicated at 23, to form abutments for said springs. Said rods project downwardly be yond said housings and their lower ends are engaged by tie members 24.

In this form of the invention a compression of one of the springs 21 allows the desired slight freedom of movement of the axle forward or back.

In Figure 6 I have shown a slight modilication wherein the resiliently expansible two-part rings are preferably provided intermediate their ends with substantially iii-shaped portions 31 which are clamped upon the front axle 2 of the vehicle.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a vehicle anchorage device, a resiliently expansive ring, and a tie member secured tovsaid ring.

2. A vehicle anchorage device comprising a resiliently expansive ring, and tie members extending downwardly from said ring at opp osite inclinations to the axial plane of said ring.

3. An anchorage device comprising a ring and having resiliently yieldable portions and a pair of tie members secured to said portions and extending downwardly from said ring at opposite inclinations to the vertical plane thereof.

4. An anchorage device for vehicles comprising a two-part ring the parts of sale ring being clamped together at diametrically opposite points of the ring, said part-s having resiliently yieldable portions, and a pair of tie members secured to said portions and extended downwardly to a suitable support, and oppositely inclined to the vertical plane of said ring.

5. The combination with a vehicle, and a support therefor, of nonstretchable upward ly inclined means secured to saidsupport, and yieldable means secured to said vehicle and non-stretchable means adapted to permit said vehicle to move a limited distance upon said support.

6. The combination with a vehicle, and a support therefor, of means anchoring the vehicle on said support including a member secured to said vehicle having yieldable sections, and non-yieldable tie members secured to said sections and to said support.

7. An anchorage device for vehicles in cluding a sectional yieldable member adapt ed to be mounted on a portion of a vehicle, each section of said member having a proj ection, and separate tie members secured to said projections.

S. In an anchorage device for vehicles, the combination with a floor plate, and a non-stretchable tie member secured to said plate, of a yieldable member adapted to be carried by the vehicle connected to said tie member.

9. A vehicle anchorage device comprising a member having cooperating sections adapted to embrace a vehicle part, one section having a resilient yieldable portion, and a rigid tie member terminally connected to and extending at an angle from said portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM W. BLAKELY. 

